By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
No fewer than 119 lives have been loss in 58 road crashes between January and October this year in Akwa Ibom State, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mr Matthew Olonisayehas has said.
Olonisaye disclosed this during in an event to commemorate African Road Safety Day and the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic Crashes in Uyo on Wednesday.
Olonisaye, who was represented by Mr. David Irunoje, Deputy Corps Commander and Head of Operations in the Command said that in 2020, the command recorded 93 road crashes and 143 casualties.
He attributed the 38 per cent decrease in 2020 and 2021 to intensive sensitisation of the motoring public by the Corps.
According to him, the World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Road Traffic Crashes was set aside by the United Nations on every third week of November to remember millions of lives loss or hurt in road traffic crashes.
Olonisaye said that the activities were expected to highlight measures being taken by national governments, non governmental organisations and religious bodies, Andrew communities against the menace of road traffic crashes.
“In view of the available crash record, it is evident to state that frantic efforts are being made by Corps to put a halt to the increasing and alarming rate of road traffic crashes occasioned by reckless/dangerous and speeding along the major inter-state corridors within Akwa Ibom State and to reduce the rate of abandonment of vehicles that cause needless traffic deadlock within Uyo metropolis.
“To tackle this menace headlong, the Corps deploys the instrument of public enlightenment campaign like this to reach to all categories of road users.
“Therefore, I call on all and sundry to join in this sensitisation campaign to instil the culture of safety consciousness in all road users, ” he said.
The Sector Commander urged road users especially drivers to think safety and act safely as the yuletide season was drawing near.
He urged drivers to ensure that they kept their vehicles in road worthy condition, use good quality tryes, avoid overloading, night trips, use of alcohol and excessive speed, stressing that speed kills.
“We must embrace discipline and commit ourselves to the cause of crash prevention and loss reduction on the road by ensuring discipline through courtesy to other road users and obedience to traffic rules and regulations,” Olonisaye said.
The Commander assured Akwa Ibom people that the FRSC would continue to work with strategic stakeholders to pursue public enlightenment programmes and aggressive enforcement of traffic rules to serve as deterrent to traffic violators.
He said that the Corps would join relevant stakeholders to create the necessary awareness in the weeklong activities to address the challenges of road crashes.
Olonisaye urged members of the public to remember the plight that victims of road traffic crashes, their families, friends and loved ones suffer by avoiding infractions that undermine their safety.
The sector commander advocated for better support for road traffic victims and victim families and promote evidence based actions to prevent and eventually stop further road deaths and injuries.
Our correspondent observed that the theme of this year’s celebration is “ACT for Low SPEED/ACT for LOW SPEED STREET”, and is meant to create awareness on the need for road users to be safety conscious and avoid excessive speed while using the road to avoid incidences of road traffic crashes that can cause loss of lives and property.
